(CNN) – Ann Romney stood firmly by her husband's commitment to release only two years of tax returns in an interview airing Thursday, saying the information already disclosed was plenty of transparency for the presumptive GOP nominee.

"There are so many things that will be open again for more attack, and you just give more material for more attack, and that's the answer. We've given all you people need to know and understand about our financial situation and about how we live our life," Mrs. Romney said on ABC.

Romney has released his tax return from 2010, and an estimate for his 2011 information. He filed for an extension on submitting his taxes in April, and has vowed to release the full return when his accountant finalized the documents.

Democrats, and some Republicans, have urged Romney to disclose more of his tax information. Democrats say additional returns will clear up questions about offshore accounts and his rate of income tax, while Republicans say it would be politically advantageous to disclose more information.

In the interview airing Thursday, Ann Romney said the information already released showed Romney was a financially generous - and responsible - man.

"You know, you should really look at where Mitt has led his life, and where he's been financially," Mrs. Romney said. "He's a very generous person. We give 10% of our income to our church every year. Do you think that is the kind of person who is trying to hide things, or do things? No. He is so good about it."

The 2011 tax estimate released in January showed the Romneys gave $2.6 million to their church last year, more than 12% of the roughly $21 million they earned. The Romneys also gave $1.4 million last year in cash and stock to their family foundation, which heavily supports the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 2010, the other year for which the Romneys released a federal tax return, they gave $1.5 million to the LDS church, 7% of their earnings, plus $900,000 to their family foundation, called the Tyler Foundation.

The Tyler Foundation gave $145,000 to the LDS church in 2010, so the Romneys' church donations average out to 10% over the last two years.

soundoff(168 Responses)

Four and The Door

She is absolutely correct and fully justified here. This is a non-issue. If the Obama government thinks there is anything wrong with Mitt Romney's tax returns then rather than playing politics why don't they just have the IRS audit?

July 19, 2012 11:00 am at 11:00 am |

Russ

She probably doesn't want us to see how she managed to take the child care deduction on her grown children. Or failed to report all the hired help's wages. The rumors will fly so I'm thinking the best solution is give it up Ann. Let's just see how all that money was earned or hidden. Double dog dare you! By the way it's so Mormon of you to recap your old man's speeches. I'm sure you don't get to say a word unless he approves it.

Yeah! I mean she worked soo hard for her money! You people leave her alone. I'm not Ann has any clue what their finances look like. She just knows about all the nice stuff hubby has bought her.

July 19, 2012 11:01 am at 11:01 am |

tim

I hate when people tell me what will and will not decide an election. How flippant. We will decided what is important when we vote, not you.

Also, I wish a reporter would ask Romney, "When you were the head of Bain, and you interviewed someone for a job, what would your reaction be if you asked them for a piece of background info and they refused to give it to you? Would you hire someone if their response was, 'You already had enough information'?"

July 19, 2012 11:02 am at 11:02 am |

Terry

"All you people need"? I'm one of "you people", and I don't especially like being talked down to by some privialged politician's wife. I guess we'll eat cake, huh Marie Romney?

July 19, 2012 11:02 am at 11:02 am |

Governor 47th in Job Creation (excluding jobs off-shored to China)

"You people" huh. Sorry modern day Marie Antoinette, not going to happen. Release the taxes. This will hound you and Willard until election day. This delaying and refusing is not sustainable.
By the way, if Ann wishes to keep interjecting herself into this with the "we" references, then she is opening herself up as a candidate and therefore fair game to be the subject of unfavorable political ads, the DNC should go right back to the dancing horse.
It's not your turn Ann. Is not and never will be.

July 19, 2012 11:03 am at 11:03 am |

Mike In Atlanta

This woman is clueless. Non-disclosure, what she says will lead to "more material for more attack" actually makes the public even more suspicious and clearly suggests something is being hidden. But why? Could it be that Queen Ann knows that if her family comes clean about their hidden cash, such a paper trail could lead to ghastly revelations about outsourcing–or maybe even tax evasion?

July 19, 2012 11:03 am at 11:03 am |

CanadaONE

WOW – "you people" what does that mean – Americans? Non Mormons ? Republicans? has to include the Democrats

Almost like " you people" don't have the right to know

Total disrespect for the country that allows her to support her chosen church – GOD must be furious!

July 19, 2012 11:03 am at 11:03 am |

The Real Tom Paine

"...all you need to know...".

That says a lot about the Mormon aristocrats, who feel free to slam their opponants and yet insist they are off-limits in terms of personal scrutiny. Maybe they should ask the Obamas about how it feels to undergo constant, withering attacks on their family, where even their daughters have been subject to ridicule of the worst kind. The arrogance and elitism of the Romneys are reinforced by the idea that they are beyond reproach because of their faith: however, their "faith" treats religion like a business and spins or hides the truth about its past whenever and wherever its convenient. There is nothing in Mitt and Ann Romney except naked, blind ambition, rather like Lucifer.

July 19, 2012 11:03 am at 11:03 am |

cbama

You people??? But you want "us people" to vote for you in November? I think not! Obama2012

July 19, 2012 11:03 am at 11:03 am |

Harry From Pa

All you people? Wth, how can she say that like she is better than us or like we are out to get her? This is messed up, tell your flipflopping hubby to give up his tax records and stop hiding stuff. You people, how bout you people learn what christ taught, to love thy neighbor as I have loved you.

July 19, 2012 11:04 am at 11:04 am |

jameskane kick the republican do nothing bums out

you people????? queen ann should just shut up!!!!! romney the clown needs to come up with his dirty tax return and show the american people if he even pays any taxes. the gop bafoons party cancer on america train wreck with romney the clown driving and bachmann as co- sucide pilot is coming in nov ,have a nice boat ride if you dont end up in jail!!!!

July 19, 2012 11:05 am at 11:05 am |

rs

Mr. Romney is easily the most elite, arrogant man to run for the office in modern times.
The very fact he cannot understand why we aren't all celebrating his wonderful success at "creative destruction" applied to American businesses and jobs- simply because he was successful at making buckets of money, and the morality of that work shows he is nothing more than a salesman- devoid of personal values beyond making a sale. Using his logic, we ought to celebrate Mexican drug cartels for their "success".

July 19, 2012 11:05 am at 11:05 am |

DON GEARHART

Seems to me that the media is showing great bias over this Romney wealth issue. How does he compare to John Kerry or John F Kennedy or George Clooney or Al Gore or all the big time athletes Obama befriends or Robert De Niro. I think all these people probably make more money or have as much wealth as Mitt but they are all "good guys" and welcome friends to Mr. Obama. Why isn't this being pointed out by the press ? The average guy in this country is being shortchanged by the media as they continue to omit pertinent data from their coverage. People need to hear about the hypocrisy in order to formulate good decisions.

July 19, 2012 11:07 am at 11:07 am |

Bob

Princess Ann, who has never worked a day in her life, will NEVER occupy the WH.

July 19, 2012 11:07 am at 11:07 am |

gayAgendaWatch

Amen! That Romeny would share even ONE of his PRIVATE financial documents is already more than we are owed. We do NOT have the right to pry into other people's financial matters even if they are running for president!!! Financial matters are PRIVATE!!!!

July 19, 2012 11:07 am at 11:07 am |

Normagene

She is just another clueless, privileged rich person. What she is forgetting is that her husband wants us to employ him and "we people" have a right to know whether we should trust him or not. Of course, rules don't apply to the rich.

July 19, 2012 11:08 am at 11:08 am |

Chales

We have already given you "little people" enough information about our finances, now vote us into "OUR" White House.

July 19, 2012 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

lreed580

Expect Wolf to give her a platform this afternoon to "explain" what she really meant.

July 19, 2012 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

Sharon

Ann Romney is quite a snob. What do they have to hide? I'm actually afraid of her and her hubby both. Creepiness aside, they just don't come across as trustworthy–or believable. And if she thinks she can just wave a finely manicured hand and make this all go away, then I think she's even more delusional than even her absurd and far too frequent commentaries reveal.

Republicans must be appalled at the nonsense surrounding Romney's quickly deteriorating "campaign". if ever had a reason NOT to vote for Romney, Ann has just given me another.

July 19, 2012 11:10 am at 11:10 am |

ejktexas

Nice.....can't wait until the phrase "you people" is run with. Much like the quote from the dinner the other night- "The waiters and waitresses that come in and out of this room and offer us refreshments, they’re not having a good year. The people of the middle class of America are really struggling. And they’re struggling I think in a way because they’re surprised because when they voted for Barack Obama...."

July 19, 2012 11:10 am at 11:10 am |

ST

"You know, you should really look at where Mitt has led his life, and where he's been financially". Said Ann Romney.

Madam, we can not know that without having more of his Tax Returns.
I can not understand where the problem lies if you paid your taxes as required and nothing to hide. Remember this problem of your husband of issuing Tax Returns started back during GOP primaries. Did your husband say the same that his fellow republicans wanted to distort the information? The answer is NO.

July 19, 2012 11:11 am at 11:11 am |

Retired Army

Well, what else could she say?

BTW.....evasion ain't a good policy......unless what you have to disclose is worse than the heat you take for non-disclosure.